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The most anticipated new restaurants opening in Orlando this year

By Orlando Weekly Staff on Sat, Feb 1, 2020 at 4:14 pm

With the new year, Orlando is looking forward to new food experiences in every corner. From recently trending food halls to finer dining options to ramen joints where everything (including the noodles) is made from scratch; from a new Disney eating spot all the way to the world’s largest White Castle – here are some of Orlando Weekly’s most anticipated restaurants for 2020. Bon appetit!

– Collection and text by Faiyaz Kara; gallery by Lillian Hernández Caraballo, Maya James, Samantha N. Olson, and Isabella Marchetta

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The most anticipated new restaurants opening in Orlando this year

Estefan Kitchen

Open; 3269 Margaritaville Blvd., Kissimmee; estefankitchenorlando.com

She shuttered Bongo's Cuban Café at Disney Springs (it'll transform to the flexitarian-friendly Beatrix in the spring of 2021) last summer, but Gloria Estefan, along with hubby Emilio, got back in the game by opening a Cuban restaurant at the Margaritaville Resort's Sunset Walk in late December. Expect long conga lines.

Photo via Estefan Kitchen/Facebook

The Hampton Social

Opening April; Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive; thehamptonsocial.com

The island-inspired flair of the old Tommy Bahama Restaurant in Pointe Orlando will soon be supplanted by the East Coast nautical swankdashery of the Hampton Social. Expect plenty of seafood, shellfish, brick-oven pizzas, and – not to sound like a broken Michael McDonald record – plenty of yacht rock, I'm sure.

Photo via The Hampton Social/hamptonsocial.com

Kyoto Sushi & Grill

Opening summer; 2716 E. Colonial Drive; kyotosushiandgrill.net

While many lamented the closure of Baja Burrito Kitchen (ahh, that salsa bar!), many rejoiced at the news this local hibachi and sushi chain, billing itself as "faster and more affordable" than other Japanese restaurants, would move into the space. In addition to hibachi, expect scores of rolls, poke bowls, bento boxes and ramen.RIPTION

Photo via Kyoto Sushi & Grill/Facebook

Babbi Babbi Korean Kitchen

Opened January; 8015 Turkey Lake Road; facebook.com/babbibabbiorlando

This fast-casual Korean joint replaced Pei Wei, a fast-casual Chinese joint, and introduced the Phillips Crossing plaza to the Kimbap – steamed rice and various meats rolled in seaweed and served in bite-sized slices. Bibimbap bowls are also offered.

Photo via Babbi Babbi Korean Kitchen/Facebook

Hall on Franklin

Opening summer; 1460 Alden Road; thehallonfranklin.com

Tampa's first food hall will expand into a 13,000-square-foot space at the Yard at Ivanhoe with tenants including local players Orlando Meats and Humbl along with Tampa's Fork & Hen and Fork & Gallina Mediterranean. The full-service food hall will see 10 restaurant vendors situated downstairs, with the second floor reserved for overflow seating, private dining, stage performances and events. Two full liquor bars will reside on the upper floor.

Photo via Hall on Franklin/Facebook

La Boulangerie

Opening spring; 125 E. Pine St.

The Modera Central apartment building downtown will house, as the name suggests, a French bakery – but they'll be open for lunch and dinner as well. Expect beef bourguignons and duck cassoulets to go along with a selection of the finest from the left and right banks.

Photo via La Boulangerie/Facebook

Brick & Spoon

Opening late January; 933 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; brickandspoonrestaurant.com

The Southern breakfast and lunch spot out of Lafayette, Louisiana, will open at the Village at Lake Lily promising build-your-own Bloody Marys and boozy concoctions. And yes, beignets will be served.

Photo via Brick & Spoon Orlando/Facebook

Shaka Donuts

Opened January; 225 E. Michigan St.; shakadonutsorlando.com

Unlike those teases at the Salty Donut (just open here already!), Shaka Donuts has committed to Orlando, and SoDoughers are diving into their made-to-order hot cake doughnuts. They've even got a doughnut named after the mayor – Buddy Dyer's Nutty Buddy. See? Commitment.

Photo via Shaka Donuts/Facebook

Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen

Opening December; 190 Independence Lane, Maitland; facebook.com/outpostneighborhoodkitchen

Running a cutesy eatery in a relatively small space in College Park is one thing. Being the anchor restaurant at the Maitland City Centre is entirely another. Outpost's brand of American comfort fare will compete with Brick & Spoon's Southern-tinged breakfast and lunch dishes nearby, so dinner could very well be the differentiator for Outpost.

Photo via Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen/Facebook

Dexter's New Standard

Open; 1035 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park; newstandardwp.com

With executive chef Ryan McLaughlin from K Restaurant, Ben Roche from 1921 Mount Dora and pastry chef Lydia Murphy from the Smiling Bison, the new Dexter's is indeed setting a new standard in this rapidly gentrifying sector of Winter Park. Their brand of "elevated American cuisine" is seasonal, with many ingredients sourced from local farms and fisheries.

Photo via Dexter's New Standard/Facebook

Bao's Castle

Opening March; 45 W. Crystal Lake St., facebook.com/baoserscastle

Owner Danny Ngo, who also runs Sodo Sushi Bar & Grill, says Bao's Castle will be a beer and wine bar serving a focused menu of bao including "the best pork belly bao you've ever eaten." Seafood bowls and 10 different craft brews will also be served. Danny Nguyen, former sushi maestro at Kabooki Sushi, will man the kitchen.

Photo via Bao’s Castle/Facebook

Henry's Depot

Opening February; 212 W. First St., Sanford; henrysdepot.com

While cocktail bar the Basin has opened inside the Sanford food hall, gourmands will need to wait a bit longer before the food stalls open. Genghis Juan's Crafty Tacos & Beastie Bowls, Poke Rose and Mahogany Coffee will join the lineup of vendors, which include Greenery Creamery, Grain & Ember, Salvatore's Prime Sandwiches and Dixie Dharma.

Photo via Henry’s Depot/Facebook

Financier Patisserie

Opened December; 212 N. Park Ave., Winter Park; financierpatisserie.com

Croissant lovers rejoiced at the news this NYC-based patisserie with Parisian panache was moving into the old Rustic Table space on Park Avenue, and now they're indulging in pastries, cakes and, bien sûr, financiers.

Photo via Rob Barlett

Sixty Vines

Opening spring; 110 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park; sixtyvines.com

The Dallas-based, wine country-inspired restaurant is making significant changes to the 8,000-square-foot space that once housed Kona Grill on the southern end of Lakeside Crossing. Of note: the exhibition kitchen with charcuterie bar, and an enclosed greenhouse patio offering a "wine garden experience." The menu of NoCal-influenced dishes (local and seasonal, of course) come ready to pair with the 60-plus wines on tap.

Photo via Sixty Vines/Facebook

Cucina Pizza & Bar

Opening summer; 55 W. Church St.; cucinapizza.com

West Palm Beach-based pizza outfit will open their build-your-own-pizza concept in the old California Tortilla space on Church Street. They tout their fresh, local ingredients (an herb wall may be incorporated for hyperlocality) and a bar should keep downtown's club set properly slaked.

Photo via Cucina Pizza & Bar/cucinapizza.com

Ole Red

Opening April; 8417 International Drive; olered.com

Country music and Southern comfort collide at Blake Shelton's Icon Park effort, a restaurant named after his hit song. Other hits come in the form of red cornmeal-fried catfish and grilled bacon-wrapped meatloaf. The "Southern tater tot poutine with sawmill gravy"? I don't think so. Coming in 2021, Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Grill (just kidding).

Photo via Ole Red/Facebook

Brother Jimmy's BBQ

Opening June at 7800 Dr. Phillips Blvd.; opening fall at 9101 International Drive; brotherjimmys.com

New York-based Carolina barbecue chain Brother Jimmy's will open not one but two smokehouses in the city this year: A counter-service operation is slated to open in the old Which 'Wich space at the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips and another full-service operation in the former Adobe Gilas space at Pointe Orlando. Let the napkins fly.

Photo via Brother Jimmy’s BBQ/Facebook

Elize Restaurant

Opened October; 55 W. Church St.; elizefoodwine.com

Rusty who? When Michelle Lagerweij took over the Rusty Spoon from Kathleen and husband William Blake, the city's food-obsessed lamented. But a stylish makeover of the space, and stylish Euro-inspired dishes courtesy of Dutch celebrity chef Leon Mazairac, have won Rusty Spooners over. The pair are still tweaking and refreshing the menu and hope to celebrate a grand opening in late February or early March.

Photo via Elize Restaurant/Facebook

The Food Factory

Opening fall; 299 Center Lake Lane, Oviedo; facebook.com/thefoodfactoryoviedo

This venue, part of the Oviedo on the Park development, will see eight "micro restaurants" run by local chefs, restaurateurs and food truck owners surrounding the Factory Bar – a rooftop bar and restaurant. Tenants include Kai Asian Street Fare, Swan City Bagels, Dixie Dharma, Grain & Ember, PokeKai, the Steak, Rockstar Lobster and Dulce Pecado. Sanford Brewing Co. will also be on site.

Photo via The Food Factory/Facebook